Kouchouk noted that this meeting represents the sixth session within the community dialogue series dedicated to discussing the second package, which seeks to involve the business community, experts, and concerned entities in shaping the proposed facilitation measures.

 

Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk affirmed, during his meeting at the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, held at the invitation of Dr. Abla Abdel Latif, Chair of the Center, that the meeting comes within the framework of the series of community dialogue sessions on the second package of tax facilitation measures, aimed at engaging all relevant stakeholders and listening to their views and feedback prior to implementation, in order to enhance the quality of public policies and strike a balance between supporting investment and maintaining fiscal discipline.

 

The Finance Minister pointed out that the first package of tax facilitations has delivered tangible results reflected in clear indicators of improved trust, explaining that approximately 400,000 requests for the review of old tax files were submitted under this package, contributing to the settlement of a large number of accumulated disputes and opening a new chapter with taxpayers.

 

This was accompanied by the submission of 612,000 new voluntary tax returns, indicating growing voluntary compliance and an expansion of the tax base, in addition to 127,000 taxpayers applying to join the simplified tax system, further reflecting the success of incentive-based policies in attracting segments of the informal economy without imposing additional burdens.

 

Ahmed Kouchouk explained that the second package of tax facilitation measures addresses several key issues, including dividend taxation, the tax treatment of holding and subsidiary companies, as well as measures aimed at supporting companies seeking to list on the stock exchange.

 

The package also includes the unification of guidance manuals and executive instructions to ensure clarity and consistency in tax application, reduce differing interpretations, and enhance tax certainty.

 

In a related context, the Finance Minister referred to the property tax facilitation package currently under consideration, which includes ten key measures, most notably enabling electronic payment, providing a mobile application to facilitate access to tax services, maintaining the property tax rate at 2.5 percent, and raising the tax exemption threshold from EGP 2 million to EGP 4 million, easing the burden on a wide segment of citizens and facilitating compliance.

 

He added that the second package also includes activating mechanisms to authorize companies, accounting firms, and accredited service providers to operate on the electronic tax system on behalf of taxpayers, contributing to streamlined procedures and reduced administrative burdens.

 

Kouchouk stressed that the Ministry of Finance stands firmly behind the Egyptian Tax Authority, noting that it is at the forefront of the reform process. “I strongly support the Tax Authority as it leads the scene, and we stand behind it,” he said, underscoring the government’s commitment to empowering tax administration institutions to drive reform effectively.

 

The Finance Minister stressed that the objective of these facilitation measures is to expand the tax base and increase the number of taxpayers without imposing additional burdens, while continuing to advance digital transformation efforts to minimize direct interaction and improve service efficiency.

 

The meeting was attended by Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority, and Sherif Kilany, an official at the Ministry of Finance, underscoring institutional coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the Egyptian Tax Authority in supporting the implementation of tax facilitation measures and strengthening partnership with the business community.

 

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Abla Abdel Latif, Chair of the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, commended the Ministry of Finance’s commitment to presenting tax policies for community dialogue, seeking the views of non-governmental stakeholders, and benefiting from evaluations and analyses issued by independent experts and institutions.

 

Following this, the Finance Minister received questions and interventions from attendees, with an interactive discussion taking place on the features of the second tax facilitation package, its implementation mechanisms, and its implications for the business community.